Every year of his professional career, Adam Scott has been able to do something a relatively small number of people who play his sport are able to: win a tournament.
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It is a streak of success that has lasted 14 years – since his first full season in 2001 – and it is one that Scott is very proud of. Understandably so.
To give the feat some perspective, Tiger Woods managed at least one victory in his first 14 years as a professional, before even his great run (which of course included more total wins) was broken up in 2010.
If Scott knows he is on the precipice of eclipsing Woods with a 15th consecutive year, then he didn't volunteer that information to the media on Wednesday.
But the Queenslander is certainly aware that 2015 could yet become his circuit-breaker.
There are plenty of reasons why Scott's tournament chart does not yet include a "W" this year and they are well documented – the change from a long putter to a short one, the inconsistent presence of his preferred caddie Steve Williams, a back-ended schedule and the birth of his first child.
Time is running out for the 35-year-old to feel that annual buzz but there are still a few sands in the hour glass left as he prepares for this week's Australia Masters and the Australian Open the week after.
"It's on my mind. I'd love to do it," Scott said of keeping the streak alive.
Scott admits things haven't been "ticking along" quite like they usually do, for all those reasons above.
"But that's going to happen," he said. "And I think everything has kind of sorted itself out now.
"I have to find that consistent high level play again, and all of these events I'm playing in now, I feel like are a stepping stone to getting there. Hopefully the high will be finishing the year with a couple of wins in Australia."
Fortunately for Scott, luck appears to be on his side this week, and all winners need a bit of that.
The player who upstaged him last year – Nick Cullen – will not be here to defend his gold jacket this time as he is busy chasing a European Tour card.
And with the event's other main headliner Ernie Els withdrawing late, top challengers to Scott will be few and far between this week – outside of Steve Bowditch, John Senden and a few others.
At No.12 in the world, Scott is the top-ranked player in this field by some distance, so it is no surprise that he is a $3.75 favourite – the next closest being his in-form Presidents Cup teammate Bowditch, at $12.
That suits Scott just fine.
"It's always worked in my favour when that's been the case. And not necessarily just Australian events, either," he said. "Being the favourite has made me play better."
He would never say this, but as much as the two-time Masters winner enjoys being the man to beat, those around him know just as well that having the name "Adam Scott" on the leaderboard provides a mental challenge for his competitors.
There is motivation beyond the streak, too.
Only two men have won three or more gold jackets – Greg Norman (who has won six times), and Craig Parry (who has won three).
But there is something else those two men have that Scott doesn't – a Masters victory at Huntingdale Golf Club, the spiritual home of the tournament.
"I'd love to win at Huntingdale," said Scott, with a glint in the eye of a person who appreciates the history of Australian golf.
"I've had a couple close calls here in playoffs and it would be nice to go one better.
"That's where my mindset is at the moment."
